So because I am a weirdo it has taken me until two and a half years into my nursing degree to start this blog but don't worry I've still got two years to go. The past two and a half years of my degree have been part time but from next semester I will be taking on extra subjects and knocking twelve months off my degree... Yay!
So I'd like to go back and talk about my first placement which took me two years to get to. Two years is a long time to think about how you are going to go on your first expedition out into the real world. I spent most of those two years feeling confident and totally relaxed, that is until about a week before hand when it all became real and I started freaking out. I started practicing manual blood pressures on anyone who would stand still long enough even though I knew that it would be a rarity to need to do manual blood pressures on a hospital ward. Plus really how much damage can I do trying to take a blood pressure? Turns out I did have one opportunity to do a manual blood pressure, albeit with the support of a wonderful RN and even though vascular patients can be difficult to even find a pulse on everything went smoothly and my confidence shot up.
Placement is an amazing experience, it is everything and nothing you thought it would be. I worried that I wouldn't be able to form meaningful therapeutic relationships with my patients however I ended up making such great connections that I had to go around and thank each one and say goodbye before I left at the end of the two weeks. I was more emotional about leaving the patients on my ward after two weeks than I was after leaving my job at the medical clinic after three and a half years. Being privileged enough to nurse and care for someone who is really in need is an amazing gift and I am so thankful for the patients who were so willing to help me learn. I also wasn't sure what to expect of the nurses, we had all been warned that bullying is rife in the nursing community and I had already experienced it myself at my job however all the nurses on my ward were wonderful. Some weren't all that happy about having students follow them around but they were all amazing with their patients and you could tell the patients loved them.
There were two nurses in particular that made my experience stand out. 'Jess' and 'Naomi' were born nurse leaders and a huge inspiration to me. They encouraged me to try things, to learn everything I could and to not be afraid to stand up for patients rights and your own safety. They were both recent graduates which I think helped them remember what it was like to be a scared little student and they both knew how to push us out of our comfort zone while giving us the support we needed. And it's funny the things you get excited over as a nursing student. I don't think I'll ever forget doing my first wound dressing on a below the knee amputation and a diabetic ulcer on a 90 something year old man who just loved to chat. Every non nursing friend I've told about that was just like "ew". And then the things that make you strangely proud like spending my last half hour on late shift holding a patient's hand and comforting her until she fell asleep because she had dementia and thought someone was coming to get her. I also dealt with my first angry dementia patient, something I was really scared about, she had a go at me for smiling at her as she walked past with her daughter complaining about her room. But by the end of her stay she became familiar with me and even thanked me when she was discharged. I also took great pride in being a shoulder to cry on for her daughter who was finding it tough to deal with her mother's attitude towards the nursing staff.
My first placement brought it home that I have definitely chosen the right career path. I am proud to be a student nurse and I can't wait to join this amazing community of nurses and carers.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone!
- Just Another Student Nurse
PS for any nursing students about to go on placement I have a few words of advice;
So I'd like to go back and talk about my first placement which took me two years to get to. Two years is a long time to think about how you are going to go on your first expedition out into the real world. I spent most of those two years feeling confident and totally relaxed, that is until about a week before hand when it all became real and I started freaking out. I started practicing manual blood pressures on anyone who would stand still long enough even though I knew that it would be a rarity to need to do manual blood pressures on a hospital ward. Plus really how much damage can I do trying to take a blood pressure? Turns out I did have one opportunity to do a manual blood pressure, albeit with the support of a wonderful RN and even though vascular patients can be difficult to even find a pulse on everything went smoothly and my confidence shot up.
Placement is an amazing experience, it is everything and nothing you thought it would be. I worried that I wouldn't be able to form meaningful therapeutic relationships with my patients however I ended up making such great connections that I had to go around and thank each one and say goodbye before I left at the end of the two weeks. I was more emotional about leaving the patients on my ward after two weeks than I was after leaving my job at the medical clinic after three and a half years. Being privileged enough to nurse and care for someone who is really in need is an amazing gift and I am so thankful for the patients who were so willing to help me learn. I also wasn't sure what to expect of the nurses, we had all been warned that bullying is rife in the nursing community and I had already experienced it myself at my job however all the nurses on my ward were wonderful. Some weren't all that happy about having students follow them around but they were all amazing with their patients and you could tell the patients loved them.
There were two nurses in particular that made my experience stand out. 'Jess' and 'Naomi' were born nurse leaders and a huge inspiration to me. They encouraged me to try things, to learn everything I could and to not be afraid to stand up for patients rights and your own safety. They were both recent graduates which I think helped them remember what it was like to be a scared little student and they both knew how to push us out of our comfort zone while giving us the support we needed. And it's funny the things you get excited over as a nursing student. I don't think I'll ever forget doing my first wound dressing on a below the knee amputation and a diabetic ulcer on a 90 something year old man who just loved to chat. Every non nursing friend I've told about that was just like "ew". And then the things that make you strangely proud like spending my last half hour on late shift holding a patient's hand and comforting her until she fell asleep because she had dementia and thought someone was coming to get her. I also dealt with my first angry dementia patient, something I was really scared about, she had a go at me for smiling at her as she walked past with her daughter complaining about her room. But by the end of her stay she became familiar with me and even thanked me when she was discharged. I also took great pride in being a shoulder to cry on for her daughter who was finding it tough to deal with her mother's attitude towards the nursing staff.
My first placement brought it home that I have definitely chosen the right career path. I am proud to be a student nurse and I can't wait to join this amazing community of nurses and carers.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone!
- Just Another Student Nurse
PS for any nursing students about to go on placement I have a few words of advice;
- Make sure you get really, really comfy shoes. You won't regret the cost!
- Be prepared to be sore. My legs ached for weeks after my first placement so make sure when you get home you take some time out for yourself.
- Most importantly have fun!